Fantasy sports is a burgeoning $3 billion industry, with more than 30 million people in the U.S. and Canada involved with leagues on a regular basis, according to the Fantasy Sports Trade Assn.

For 2010, NFL Fantasy Football operations were brought in-house, enabling the "official game of the NFL" to incorporate for the first time video and in-game highlights and analysis that can be customized throughout the season to each player’s team and each fantasy match up. What was described as "hours of pregame video, including analysis and fantasy advice," will help users manage their rosters and set their lineups each week.

Among the other unique features in the platform, player projections are now tied to Madden NFL from EA Sports. As player ratings change on Madden every week, player projections are adjusted on NFL.com to give users up-to-date information.

NFL.com’s fantasy game also syncs to the league’s official Game Statistics and Information System, for free and fast live scoring and postgame corrections as soon as they are official. In addition, NFL Fantasy Football will provide a comprehensive ‘Activity Feed’ for each player and league, containing breaking news, transactions, injury reports, discussions and league-manager changes.

As the presenting sponsor of NFL Fantasy Football, Verizon "will be deeply integrated into the game, including branding on every league’s home page," according to the NFL. Verizon in April replaced Sprint as the NFL’s official wireless service sponsor.

“The addition of in-game video and highlights will set apart our new official game on NFL.com,” Brian Rolapp, svp-media strategy and digital media for the NFL, said in a statement. “As video has changed the Web, we look forward to it changing fantasy football."

NFL Fantasy Football makes available two free platforms. NFL Custom League provides fans the opportunity to customize a league for their friends. Fans who sign up for NFL-Managed League will be in a league run by NFL.com and be eligible to win official NFL prizes.

"Our game will deliver a more dynamic experience and be customized for both veteran and new fantasy players," said Rolapp. "Fans will not want to miss the chance to join the new leagues now as we continue to produce new features to enhance NFL Fantasy Football in the future.”